Alberta Louise “Honey” Gillespie

Alberta Louise “Honey” (Swartz) Gillespie

On Sunday, September 25, 2022, Alberta “Honey” Gillespie, beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt passed away in the presence of her loved ones in Danville, Indiana.  She was 102 and 11/12 years old. As beautiful as her passing was, so were the 102 years that preceded it.

Born Alberta Louise Swartz Halloween 1919 in Eugene Oregon, to parents Jim and Rena Belle Swartz, Honey was the last living sibling of her six brothers and sisters: Stanton, Violet, Ruth, Dorothy, Johnny and Carl.

At just 16 years old, Honey married the love of her life, Ross Edward “Eddie” Gillespie, on September 2, 1936. They were blessed to have a lifelong 79-year marriage with three sons, six grandchildren, fifteen great-grandchildren and three great-great grandchildren. Honey and Eddie traveled extensively on their journey through life together visiting all 50 states, Mexico, and Canada.  Eddie preceded Honey in passing in 2014. Honey is survived by her sons, Wesley & Marsha Gillespie (Danville, IN), James & Jean Gillespie (Sadieville, KY), and Terry & Mary Jo Gillespie (Danville, IN) and all her grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great grandchildren.

A lifelong Christian who loved her family, Honey faithfully served in numerous Church congregations and devoutly read her bible. She was a Sunday school teacher, sang in the Choir and thoroughly enjoyed caring for her siblings growing up. She enjoyed watching “The Wheel” and was known to show off her quick wit by solving the puzzles before any letters were revealed.

Honey was known by her family for her attentiveness and calm, loving spirit. She was also known for the pies she’d bake from scratch for special occasions. Honey’s pies, especially her chocolate pies - topped with homemade whipped cream - were prized holiday desserts quickly devoured by her family.

Eddie and Honey were inseparable and could usually be found tending to their beautiful garden.  Like her mother, she loved flower gardening and always had peonies and snapdragons planted. In quiet moments after the yard work was done, she’d look across her yard and point out the wind gently blowing over the top of the blades of grass. She said those were the little fairies running across her yard. It was a crisp, Kodachrome day when Honey’s spirit went to be with the Lord. There was a gentle breeze, and the fairies were running through the grass, leading Honey to the eternal garden where Grandpa Eddie has been waiting for her.

A celebration of life will be hosted on October 2nd at 2:00 PM at Eric M.D. Bell Funeral Home, 220 North Maple Street, Pittsboro, Indiana 46167.  A more informal tribute with hors d’ oeuvres will follow. She will be dearly missed by all.